Britain and India agree nuclear deal

• 14 years ago (2010-02-05)
• David Flin

Asia 847 Europe 1061 Nuclear 639

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Britain and India have agreed on the text of a deal that will allow British companies to compete to supply nuclear power equipment worth $150 million to India. The deal comes after international sanctions that had prevented India from buying civilian nuclear technology for 30 years were lifted in 2008. India was originally banned from accessing civilian nuclear technology when it tested a nuclear bomb in 1974.

The two countries declined to give further details, but officials claimed that it would provide “major trade opportunities” for British businesses.

India is expected to increase the power it generates from nuclear sources 100-fold over the next 40 years.

Meanwhile, during a visit to Russia, the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed a new pact under which Russia will build up to 12 new reactors in India. The deal, which is estimated to be worth “several dozens of dollars”, is structured so that India will continue to receive nuclear fuel from Russia and keep imported equipment, even if it tests nuclear weapons.

India has also approached the French manufacturer Areva over the possible supply of its latest generation of reactors. Areva already has a deal to supply China with the same technology.